Jaysella’s York Racecard for Wednesday 20th August 2025

Jaysella’s York Racecard for Wednesday 20th August

Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 1.50
The Man
Right, here we go, lets get things off to a good start with a winner in the first. I think, on the balance of it, Richard Spencer’s The Man could be the one to take this. My reasoning – he won here over course and distance following a wind op back in May, and although we haven’t see him since, he can go well after a break. Plus, he’s got an ideal draw for this 5 furlong dash, and he’s got David Egan back aboard, who kept him well up with the pace last time, so I’d expect similar tactics again. Both the in-form Vintage Clarets and Nigel Tinkler’s course winner Squealer have to come from high numbered stalls, so Paul Midgeley’s Spring Is Sprung looks the tempting each-way angle, if that’s your thing. The Man just edges it for me, with Spring Is Sprung going to set the pace from the inner rail. Fingers crossed!

Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (Group 3) 2.25
Italy (nb)
Can he? Can he? Yep, I think he can, I think that Italy, Aidan O’Brien’s impressive looking Wootton Bassett colt can take this Group 3. Now I’ve said that, maybe super quick ground wouldn’t be ideal, and that would play into the hands of Charlie Appleby’s Night Of Thunder colt, Distant Storm. Decisions, decisions, yep I’m sticking with my instinct and saying that Italy’s winning this, I mean, he went pretty dam close in the Superlative at Newmarket, just couldn’t get to the winner coming across late from the far side group, but that was a Group 2, so this ain’t any more difficult. Italy to win under Ryan Moore, with Distant Storm the danger.

Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) 3.00
Carmers
This is a red hot renewal with dual Derby winner Lambourn all the rage to land this Group 2, and it’s no surprise that he’s odds on everywhere to win his fourth in a row. But, but, I’m going to buck the trend and go with Paddy Twomey’s Carmers, who’s got stacks of stamina and can force the pace if Stay True doesn’t, cos’ he looks like the Ballydoyle pacemaker to me. Now I might have got all this wrong, and maybe I’m underestimating Lambourn, but the form from when we gave Carmers for the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot could not have worked out any better, with the second and the fifth winning since. Carmers has been laid out for this, and although Lambourn has also had a short break, he was all out to land the Irish Derby, and has to give 2lbs for those Group One wins. With Pride Of Arras winning the Dante here in May, and having been gelded after a couple of indifferent runs, he can make my shortlist too. So, methinks a tactical race, whether one of the three Ballydoyle runners other than Lambourn makes the pace, but that could benefit Carmers, who will surely want a truly run race. Interesting, my gut says Carmers while my head says Lambourn – you know what I’m going to do!

Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1) 3.35
Ombudsman (nap)
The best race globally in 2020 & 2024, as I was going on about with Barney in the Podcast last week, but it’s Ombudsman for me, all the way to the final outcome! Now, Delacroix has notably been the only Ballydoyle left in at the final declaration stage, so I think that tells us something, but conversely, it’s Godolphin who have supplied the pacemaker here with the French raider Birr Castle. So, what we should get is another properly run race, and that for me plays into Ombudsman’s hands, as this hard as teak Night Of Thunder colt wants to take the sting outta Delacroix. I think that’s the right tactics, and let’s remember, Ombudsman has been in the first two in seven career starts, and can probably give 7lbs to Delacroix. Probably. Of, course, it’s no two horse race with Japanese raider Denon Decile lining up, and with See The Fire, the runaway winner of the Middleton here on the Knavesmire also here, we’ve got a real cracker for the feature. Daryz from Francis-Henri Graffard’s yard is unbeaten and could be anything, but my feeling is William Buick has got clear instructions to make it as hard a race as he can. Ombudsman for me the final outcome!

Sky Bet Stayers Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 4.10
Fireblade
I’m taking a bit of a punt here on Dylan Cunha’s Fireblade. It’s a hot hot hot handicap this, but this Frankel gelding has been progressive this season and is still unexposed at this trip. Just take a look back at his win in the Racing League under Suraj Narredu where he found plenty for pressure from the home turn, and it’s a stiff old finish at Ascot, but he won going away. Just 12 days to recover from that, but I think he’s going the right way and expect him to be bang in the mix. Santorini Star is clocking up a good record in handicaps, so the Golden Horn filly makes obvious appeal for William Haggas, while Faye Bramley’s Almuhit is fully out there but another with a squeak. Yep, Fireblade to go in, with Santorini Star the one for James Doyle to keep tabs on.

IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Fillies’ Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 4.45
Luna A Inbhir Nis
Moon over Inverness I’m told by The Mandarin is what Luna A Inbhir Nis means, but whatever, I think she’ll win for Katie Scott. She’s been knocking them out this year, six from eight including here last time out, and she’s coming from the favoured low side of the draw, so lots to like in my book. I suppose you could question whether she’s got much more to come, but I like that winning habit and Jason Hart up top does it for me too. Also, Fluorescence, who is my second pick, is in the stall next door, so can bring her into the race. Toss of a coin really, between Fluorescence and Luna A Inbhir Nis, but I think one of this pair’s taking this.

Sky Bet Nursery Handicap 5.20
Utmost Respect
Richard Fahey’s got a good record in this, and I can’t see Utmost Respect being far away. We last saw his Invincible Spirit colt winning in good style in Hamilton, but it’s his seventh in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Ascot’s Royal do is the standout piece of form for me. Seventh of the twenty-three in that run put Utmost Respect just 3 & 1/2 lengths behind the exciting Havana Hurricane, so another performance like that will put him in the picture for a trainer that knows how to ready one for this contest. Ollie Sangster’s Dublin Bay and Andrew Balding’s Old Is Gold are on my list, but Utmost Respect is the one they gotta beat.